Restaurant extractor fan audible from garden

user1977

lapaillade90 said:

user1977 said:

lapaillade90 said:

I understand that a restaurant has to have an extractor fan to comply with health & safety standards, but I was hoping for advice as to whether having a fan that is audible all day three doors down would fall within that definition of a "nuisance"?

I would expect to be able to hear some sort of noise coming from a restaurant if I were only three doors away from it. Like I said, if all they've done is install the fan which they've got permission for, I doubt it would somehow otherwise be deemed to constitute a nuisance.

Hi there - is there a way I can check if they have the necessary permission?

Well, have you checked the planning history on the council's website? Though that is only likely to have details of relatively recent applications and it could have been there for decades.

Have a look at applications for similar premises though and you'll see the sort of detail typically required about the noise profiles of equipment being installed, hours of operation etc.

lookstraightahead

I have to say I wouldn't buy three doors from a takeaway because of the smell, but that's because I experienced it with a rental.

I'm honestly not sure what you were expecting? Did you not sit outside the takeaway every evening for a week checking things out?

Try speaking to the neighbours, see if it's ever been anything any different. Even if there's something wrong with the planning permission, they're likely to get retrospective permission.

davilown

 I think op, that you should have gone out in the garden more on the viewings, and noted what was in your local area. 

A restaurant is complying with the law yet you seem to want them to change their fan because it’s noisy to you when you’ve just moved in.

As others have stated, either suck it up or move - your choice.

Abbafan1972

I think I would have noticed if a take away was 3 doors away and definitely weighed up the pros and cons.  I would be more concerned about the smell and lots of cars/people hanging about late at night. 

NinjaTune

All this talk of takeaways is making me hungry 

Nothing to add really that hasn't already been said.

1)  Speak to neighbours; are they bothered by the noise and, if so, have they ever complained about it?
2)  Speak to the takeaway owners, ask when the extractor duct was last checked just in case something is loose/broken.

Yes you could offer to pay for a new extractor duct but with labour for installation it could be very costly.  The takeaway owner may not be interested in your offer anyway as it will cause disruption/loss of money to their business while the work is being done. 

It sounds like the noise is annoying but not overly intrusive judging by what you've said.  Normally you would start to get used to these sort of noises but as you are now so focused on it that's unlikely to happen.  Once we are annoyed by a noise we begin to notice it more and more as our brain hones in on it.

deannagone

I think this episide https://www.my5.tv/at-war-with-the-noise-next-door/season-1/episode-3-85b6c78e-6eb3-4d5a-a5ce-5d439bc8662e deals with a noisy chip shop extractor but this one had a high pitched whine that could be heard internally.  In an earlier episode there was a less noisy extractor that the noise people said was not loud enough to be a nuisance.  But worth watching to help you decide if its worth complaining.  But even the extractor that was deemed to be noisy took nearly a year to get a result on.  But better than nothing I suppose.

carefullycautious

It is early days yet, I and many others have lived near to railway tracks and after a few weeks you do not notice the noise. Give it more time and see if this  happens with you. If not you can then think about checking if the noise meets approval etc

Anyanka1

Absolutely the only thing I have to contribute, OP (and I do sympathise with you) is that the infinitely smaller, less powerful extractor fan in our downstairs loo had to be replaced a while ago and seemed to make more noise than its predecessor, for all it was exactly the same make/model/spec.  Him Outdoors installed it, as opposed to the sparks who rewired the house several years ago.

HO said the flexible tube thingy that contains the extracted air was somewhat collapsed in on itself when he removed the plate so he opened it up (it's basically tin foil) and it does seem to work better but makes a bit more noise so I suppose the issue could, in part, be due to the skill of the installer.

I realise it's London but you could still try speaking to your neighbours to find out if the sound has always been the same or has recently become worse.  Who knows?  Perhaps the fan is due for replacement.  I honestly think, however, that all new residences come with strange noises/levels of noise and getting used to them is just part of moving in.

I admit, constantly screeching brats is not something I will ever find tolerable, or normal but thank the powers the schools are open again... For now.  Their parents could decide to control them and did, during real lock-down; it was blissfully quiet then, when they had to put up with them rather than inflicting their racket on other people so they could have some peace.

Good luck.

lapaillade90

Following up on the responses above, I've spoken to a couple of the neighbours and it turns out that the sound of the fan was previously raised with the council, who agreed that it was too loud and requested the restaurant to resolve the issue.

Sounds like they temporarily fixed it but under new management it's got worse again. Have also spoken to a couple of fan engineers who have confirmed the fan appears to be faulty and needs to be repaired/replaced.

Reassuring to know I'm not being completely unreasonable

Anyanka1

Good for you, lapaillade90 and thanks for the update.  Please let us know what you decide to do and the outcome as it would be so nice to hear someone actually obtained a result in the fight against noise, for once.  I, for myself, look for no victory.